unheavenly creatures

Fire and Ice

SABRINA

The blanket around my shoulders doesn't do much to keep me warm. Yet again, I only have the one compared to Ali, who got toppled with most of the Jones's blankets when we hurried over. I shiver under the blanket and watch as Mrs. Jones stitches up Ali's arm on the family's couch. Jughead stands near me by the dinner table, his little sister sitting next to Ali.

Mister Jones paces back and forth in the living room. I hear him as he tries to make sense of the information Ali told him. "And then she just.....disappeared?" He then turns to me. "Did you get a glimpse of this person?"

I shake my head, feeling so guilty. "I only came out when I heard Ali screaming. I didn't even know somebody came into the trailer and attacked Ali until I saw the cut on her arm." And it's true - Ali had to defend herself from this......she keeps saying that it was like an identical version of herself, a doppelganger. This person tried to kill Ali.....and I was asleep the whole time. Why couldn't I have woken up sooner? Why did I not do something? And.....and where was Salem during the raid? I only noticed him acting all skittish by the couch when I did all I could to wrap up Ali's arm, to run over to the Joneses for help. Now, Salem's curled into a corner of the kitchen, licking at himself with no explanation.

Mister Jones nods his head at me with a turtle's pace. By this point, Mrs. Jones finishes the repair work on Ali's arm, exclaiming, "That should do it, witch. You better have painkillers on hand. Or.....if you got some magic to heal that damn thing. Could get infected if you don't look after it."

Ali takes her time to breathe in, then out. "Thank you. Both of you." Her voice comes out hoarse, I feel awful for her, I feel awful for not even providing her comfort over on that couch. Jellybean rests her head up against Ali's shoulder and curls in. Ali starts to run her hand down the girl's hair, and I somehow wish that was me instead.

My gaze goes distant, staring off to somewhere in the kitchen. The noise from the living room dies down, but I can hear Mister Jones kneeling in front of Ali. The three adults begin talking in hushed voices, hoping that Jughead and I won't hear......that's odd. What are they trying to keep secret from us? And why haven't they sent Jellybean our way? I do my best to catch phrases of what I can from Ali's conversation with the Joneses.

You swear it was him? Posing as you? I saw his eyes, FP. It wouldn't matter if he was pretending to be me, or someone else. The eyes gave it away. He knows I'm in this trailer park. What about Sabrina? Did he get near her? No.....but if he did....I'm not.....we're not safe..... Then stay with us. That way you have more backup and that asshat won't get his hands on your girl. Gladys, no.....She's right, Ali. You're better off staying here.....

This person.....it was a he? Was this person dressed as her? I'm so confused right now.....does this have anything to do with.....when Ali was....

"Good thing you came to us when you did." I hear Jughead mutter to me. I turn my head to him as he brings over a glass of water. He comments, "Not that the hospital wouldn't have helped, but....it'd be a lot to take on financially." I don't say anything to him, partially because I too am sleep-deprived. I just claim the glass of water and take small sips. I don't realize how dry my throat is until the water hits. I'm so distracted by drinking that I didn't notice Jughead slipping into the bedroom until he returns with his journal. He joins me at the table and flips open to the page with the drawing.

"Not to keep digging at this, but," Jughead goes from pointing at the book over to Ali. He leans in so he doesn't raise his voice when he asks, "You think all of these recent attacks might be the same person?"

I freeze up. My gaze wanders down to the book, I start taking in the details of Jughead's sketch. What would the snake and the vision of Forsythe Senior have to do with tonight? What would Moose's attacker have to do with.....